Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1887-11-21

there won't be anybody there only
Belinda and our own folks. Say
you'll come %
'sWal, | dunno, Mrs. Hatch" said
the deacon, uneasily. II thank you
very much for the kindly invite, but
I've been a feelin' kind of blue fur a
good spell now, and | don't know as
| would be fittin' comp'ny to 90 and
eat Thanksgiving dinners with folks
when I'm blue
"Sho that's all nonsense, deacon.
| You must come, now, and | shall be
4 a-lookin for you" And good-heart-
ed little Mrs. Hatch ran back into
the house before the deacon could
make any further protest.
If Mrs. Blossom noticed the dea-
dn's departure, she betrayed no con-
sciousness of the fact, but demurelv
yer.
Supper, the great event of the day,
was ready at last, and the guests
were doing ample justice to the plen-
tiful array of viands set before them.
Boiled ham, chicken pot pie, mashed
potato and turnips, hot slaw, apple
sauce, squash pie, custard pie, jelly
cake, cookies and doughnuts, all
were placed on the table together,
and the guests invited to help them
selves, which they did with a will.
The meal was we'll under way, and
conversation had tagged very con-
dderably, for with hungry people
eating and talking are not to be car
led on together, when a new arrival
came in the person of Hiram Prim,
5he storekeeper's clerk.
Hiram was soon seated at the ta-
Bile, helping himself right and left to
the still abundant substantials and
Iuxuries on the board.
sEHeard the news?" he asked look
ing around after taking few mouth
fuls ''Hain't? Wal, the Blueglass
bank has busted-smashed clear up.
Creditors won't get five cents on a
COLLAR"
Exclamations of surprise greeted
the unexpected tidings on all sides.
The Widow Blossom turned pale,
and gazed wildly on the speaker.
Lawyer Greene also changed coun-
tenance as he gazed furtively at
Mrs. Blossoms face.
''Is that really so, Hiram" he
asked anxiously.
sits really So" declared Hiram.
.It,u be in the papers tomorrow
morning.
"Why, Mr.. Greene, you hain't got
money there, hev your
'EOh, no; certainly not. My funds
are secured on real estate. | don't
trust to banks" said Hiram, gravely,
thereby causing a general laugh, as
it was a we'll known fact that Hiram
spent his wages as he earned them.
No one noticed the widows chang
ed demeanor, though she still looked
pale. and declined second piece of
squash pie.
But Lawyer Greene seemed sudden
ly to have changed his tactics, and
was now evidently bent on getting up
Irritation with Mahala Williams.
The widows money affairs were
not generally known among her ac-
quaintances consequently she escaped
their condolences. Jemima Hatch,
though, did manage to whisper few
words of sympathy in her ear.
''Don't worry about it, Belindy,'
she urged "I'll come over and see
you Tomorrow ,and we'll talk it over"
But Mrs. Blossom did not recover
her spirits.
Lawyer Greene did not appear to
notice when the widow rose to leave,
compelling her to accept the protec
ton of half-grown Tom Larcom, much
| to the surprise of all who noticed the
circumstance.
..He was awful sweet on the wild
der at first" they whispered. 'She
must have given him the mitten."
And the next day it was currently
reported that Lawyer Greene had
proposed to Widow Blossom and had
been rejected. So much for the truth
of what "they say
Jemima paid the promised visit
bright and early the next morning.
She fonnd her sister looking pale and
detected.
''How bad is it, Belindy?" she ask
ed. "Did you put all your money in
the bank p
"All-every cent of it." groaned
the widow.
''Wal, it is too bad, but never
mind you don't have to give up the
house, right away, do your
ssNo; not till March"
$50 much the better, then; though
of course you would have a home
with us right away; but there's your
COWS and chickens and such things.
They'll bring better price after you
have wintered them, and you can sell
them in the spring, and there'll be so
much gained"
After considerable more conversa-
ton on the subject. the widow seem
ed to brighten up a little, and her
sister prepared to take her leave.
s'Now you'll be sure to come and
eat Thanksgiving dinner with US